Two shot, one killed outside Anthony's strip club in South Hadley

The Republican | Don TreegerAnthony's strip club in South Hadley is seen Friday after an early morning shooting left one man dead and another injured.

SOUTH HADLEY - A shooting outside Anthony's Gentlemen's Club early Friday morning left one man dead and another injured.

Police have not released the victims' identities, and have not indicated whether any arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.

Mary Carey, communications director for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said the shooting at the 500 New Ludlow Road strip club was reported just before 2 a.m.

The South Hadley Police Department and Massachusetts State Police detectives unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office are investigating, Carey said, adding that no further details about the shooting were immediately available Friday morning.

First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, who is overseeing the investigation, said there appears to be no threat to the public’s safety.

“Although the investigation into this incident continues, it appears this was not a random act of violence, and there is no cause for public alarm,” Gagne said.

Two employees at the bar declined comment Friday, but said the shooting happened outside after patrons had been cleared from the club at the standard closing time of 1:45 a.m.

Steven Moran, owner of Riverside Motors, a neighboring business, said the club has been a good neighbor and that he hasn't had any problems over the years.

"It's too bad that somebody lost their life," Moran said. 'But I don't think that this is going to happen again for a while. It's a fluke, I believe."

Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the South Hadley Police at (413) 538-8231, Ext. 306, or the Massachusetts State Police at (413) 587-5517. Members of the public may also send anonymous tips through the Text-a-Tip program by texting PROTECT and a message to 274637.

The last recorded homicide or non-negligent manslaughter in the town was in 2002, according to statistics maintained by the FBI. That figure could not immediately be confirmed with local officials.